528 



kept in good condition and repair. The much needed im- 

 provement of the City Park is still delayed, for the want of 

 a suitable appropriation, but will be taken in hand as soon as 

 funds shall be provided for the purpose. 



The parade ground continues admirably to serve the pur- 

 poses for which it was intended, and affords ample accommo- 

 dation for military drills and parades, as well as for the nu- 

 merous cricket and ball players who frequent it. 



Next to the construction and care of the parks, the works 

 of most importance to the city with which the Park Commis- 

 sioners have been intrusted by the Legislature, are the Eastern 

 Parkway, with the special street system of which it is the 

 center, and the Ocean Parkway leading from Prospect Park 

 towards the Coney Island beach. During the past year, the 

 heavy work of grading the Eastern Parkway has been com- 

 pleted, and its surface constructions of paving, macadamizing 

 and planting with trees are now well advanced. The grading 

 of Douglas and Degraw streets is also in progress, and their 

 pavement may be undertaken in the spring as soon as their 

 deep fills shall have sufficiently settled. 



The plans of the Ocean Parkway have been matured in 

 detail, and the Commissioners are now prepared to make con- 

 tracts for its construction ; and hope, in the course of another 

 season, to open the drive as far as the Fair Grounds. 



By the act of the Legislature directing the Commissioners 

 to sell certain portions of park land lying east of Flatbush 

 avenue, they were charged with the duty in making prepara- 

 tion for the sale, to lay out streets and avenues across the 

 land, and to grade and pave the same, so as to adapt it to im- 

 mediate public use. 



In the prosecution of this work, it was deemed necessary 

 by the Board of Public Works of the city, to enlarge the 

 limits of the ground necessary to be held by them, for the 

 security of the Prospect Hill reservoir, and to lay water-pipes 

 connected therewith, in courses not before contemplated. 

 The Commissioners were consequently obliged to adopt a 

 modification of the plan of these streets which had been orig- 

 inally designed by them, in order to meet the requirements 

 of that board. The advantages of the original plan, however, 



